On a party-line vote, the county Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Tuesday urging Congress to renew a program protecting young immigrants from deportation and move forward on a broader immigration reform effort.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was created by executive order by former President Barack Obama in 2012 and rescinded by President Donald Trump last September.
“The Pima County Board of Supervisors hereby calls for the U.S. Congress to act swiftly to renew the DACA program to lift the cloud of fear and uncertainty from its participants so they can continue their great contributions to the public good,” the resolution, which was put on the agenda by Supervisor Richard Elías, reads.
The program covers migrants brought to the United States illegally as children.
“It’s time for this board to take a stand on DACA,” Elías said before the vote.
More than 2,000 of the roughly 800,000 participants nationwide live in Pima County, according to the resolution.
Republican Supervisors Ally Miller and Steve Christy voted against the resolution.
Christy has regularly criticized resolutions that address national issues he feels are outside of the board’s purview.
While not supportive of a continuation of DACA, Miller said, “It’s time for Congress to get off their butts to get something done on comprehensive immigration reform, addressing these 800,000 people,” adding: “These people have been in limbo.”
In response to Miller, Elías said “I know you have a good heart on this issue.”
Trump and congressional leaders have been working to come up with a new agreement to protect DACA recipients from deportation.
A proposed agreement last week was rejected by Trump.
In other board business, the supervisors voted in a new chair. Elías will be the new chairman, and Ramón Valadez will be the vice chairman.
Contact: mwoodhouse@tucson.com or 573-4235. On Twitter: @murphywoodhouse
